A step into Marie Antoinette’s home!

It was the fourth day of our European adventure when we decided to visit the illustrious home of Marie Antoinette, the Palace of Versailles. After being in awe of the sheer size of Château de Chantilly, I was definitely expecting Versailles to be as majestic. It did not disappoint!

We arrived just in time to beat the lunch crowd, and decided to eat at a random restaurant near the palace. Got lucky and found a nice bistro that offered a huge lunch portion for cheap. You definitely have to eat beforehand because you need all the calories you can get for walking! There are some food concessionaires at the palace grounds but it’s way overpriced.

After lunch, we made our way to the palace and got greeted by an extremely long line. It was the line to get in even if you have tickets already! We’re happy we bought tickets the night before because otherwise, we’d end up waiting in line twice. We encountered two girls who thought it was the line to buy tickets, and they ended up waiting for 20 minutes until they were turned away at the door. Quelle tragédie!

My sister and her husband have been to the palace of course, and I didn’t really plan any special route. I was content to explore aimlessly.

Warning: Photo-heavy post.

This sealed off hallway is such a beauty! I’m glad they try to give a sense of quiet in an otherwise busy tour spot.Guys, this is a chapel! A chapel! Didn’t see the front up close since this part is also sealed off but I spy a golden chapel organ. It’s extremely ostentatious. I love it!I like the idea of the four-poster bed, though I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep in a room that’s screaming red and gold. Too Gryffindor-ish. I’m quite partial to Ravenclaw blue. Also, it’s creepy to be in a room where there are faces everywhere you look.Interesting contrast of the chess-like floor and gilded wall and ceilings.Oh, just walking down the stairs feeling like I own the place. Ha!The hall of mirrors was breathtaking! Crystal chandeliers hung from the gilded ceilings, and mirror arches lined one side of the wall. I’m sure they had amazing parties here. If I had millions of dollars, I would totally have my wedding here and ask all my guests to dress like they’re from 18th century France.Had to take a selfie here!The palace grounds is something you just can’t miss. Spanning at least 5 km, it’ll take a whole day just to see and enjoy everything. There are various fountains and small gardens littered around the area. Don’t worry as they provide a map for you, just in case you get lost. There’s also a cart that drives people to and from the palace but it’s an additional cost.It’s green and bright and wonderful!I wasn’t actually sure what this one was. A cave? A fountain? In any case, there’s a field of dandelions and statues of horses. I say it’s perfect for an afternoon picnic, but they don’t allow you to be on the grass. Shame.I didn’t pass up the chance to row a boat. It’s way harder than it looks. Also, those paddles weigh a ton!The view of the castle is amazing from where we were paddling. I can’t believe we walked all the way from there! My legs definitely knew what was up.

Here are my top five tips before your trip:

GO EARLY. We made the choice to arrive later in the morning and regretted that immensely. There are just too many tour groups and not enough room to properly enjoy the space. The palace opens at 9 am so go at least 30 minutes before.

BUY YOUR TICKETS IN ADVANCE. Since you’re already going early, might as well buy your tickets online. It’ll eliminate the need to line up twice.

EAT A HEAVY BREAKFAST OR BRING YOUR OWN. Granted there are places to eat at in the palace grounds but why pay 15 euros for a sandwich when you can just bring your own? Note: You can’t actually bring it inside the palace. You have to check it in and then get it back to eat at the gardens where you can picnic.

WEAR COMFORTABLE SHOES. The whole place is massive! You’ll be doing a lot of walking and not all of that will be on marble floors. Leave your five-inch heels at home, or at least bring another pair to change into after you’ve photographed your OOTD.

VENTURE OUT OF THE PALACE. If you have time, don’t limit yourself to the palace and its grounds. Walk around Versailles. There’s an open market in Place du Marché Notre Dame where they sell artisan bread, cheese, spices, fresh produce and more!

I think you need two full days to see everything at the palace at a leisurely pace. I don’t think we managed to see everything in one day, and I would love to go back soon.

Tell me what I missed during my day at Versailles by leaving a comment below!